Texas Tech women’s basketball and head coach Candi Whitaker announced on Wednesday that Japreece Dean and Zuriel Sanders signed national letters of intent on Wednesday that will bring them to the South Plains in the 2015 fall, according to a Texas Tech news release
“I am so happy to welcome Japreece and Zuri to the Lady Raider family,” Whitaker said in the release. “Both of these kids were big-time recruits and it’s huge to get these types of players signed early. Our staff worked extremely hard to recruit both of them because they fit needs that we have for the future.”

Kelsi Baker didn’t know what was going on.
For a split second she thought she had been hit with an errant ball. Then the first dull, aching pain came and she wondered if she had stepped on something and hadn’t realized it.
Neither were true.
The Texas Tech senior forward’s Achilles heel had popped. And as she hobbled off the court of Tech’s summer workouts in August of 2013, Baker’s hopes for a stellar senior season popped with it.

Minta Spears doesn’t even like to lose at Candyland.
And Texas Tech’s 0-18 mark in the Big 12 has stuck with her with every shot she has taken in the offseason.
“The most frustrating thing was obviously losing,” the sophomore Lady Raiders guard said. “I think we have used it as motivation and fuel for this season. Last year was the first year under coach (Candi) Whitaker, and I think it was a huge learning process. ... And last year was not what we wanted it to be, but we just have to work hard every day and do the details right.

The top three scorers in the Big 12 last season have moved on to the WNBA.
No one more impactful, of course, than Odyssey Sims, who was the No. 2 pick in the draft and led the Big 12 in scoring by more than eight points (28.5 ppg).
However, for the first time in five seasons, Baylor’s roster doesn’t include a player who would be considered the best in the nation. For three of those five seasons, Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims were both on the court for the Lady Bears.
Now, the void is felt across the entire Big 12.

Candi Whitaker is frustrated.
“When you are part of a program like this one and you were here when it was thriving and the expectations on it were extremely high,” the Texas Tech women’s basketball coach said, “to come back when it is not that has been a big adjustment and a frustration for me. (I want) to get the message out about what this program can be.”
Tubby Smith is aiming for the same thing.
He even fell off a motorcycle to prove it.

Texas Tech men's and women's basketball will host "Showtime" at 7:30 p.m. on October 17 at United Supermarkets Arena as part of the 2014 Texas Tech Homecoming events schedule.
Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the free event begins with an autograph session with both teams for 30 minutes on the concourse level before the program begins.
Fans will have the chance to win several prizes throughout the night. Contests include two, half-court shots for $10,000 and two, 30-second shootouts to win $25,000.

Texas picked to win Big 12; Tech last
Texas was selected as the preseason favorite for the third time in Big 12 history to win the 2014-15 Big 12 women’s basketball regular season title, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
The Longhorns were picked to win the conference in 2003-04 and 2004-05. They won the regular season in 2002-03 and shared the title in 2003-04 with Kansas State.

Texas was selected as the preseason favorite for the third time in Big 12 history to win the 2014-15 Big 12 women's basketball regular season title, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Longhorns were picked to win the conference in 2003-04 and 2004-05. They won the regular season in 2002-03 and shared the title in 2003-04 with Kansas State.
Texas returns 10 letter-winners, including four starters, from last year's squad that finished third in the conference and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship.